Milk Carton Issue One

Angels and Airwaves Music Video shoot – Lacy Studios – Sunday, January 20^th

They might not be your favorite band. Maybe you’ve never heard of them. Maybe you liked Blink 182 better. Nonetheless, the experience of a music video is fairly fascinating: the time that goes into it, the thought-processes behind it, the many retakes, and the different personalities that are present.

The song was “Secret Crowds”, an anthem for those who may feel cast out from the general population or what we consider to be the social norm. The lyrics empower the listener and motivate them to take initiative. In Tom Delonge’s own words from the day of the shoot, “the fact that I’m doing this proves that anyone can get kicked out of high school and drop out of college and take over the world…I get paid to be a bum.” Perhaps the liquid in the red cup that he was carrying around the set had some affect on the words he was uttering, but there’s a bit of truth in them. One can do whatever they set their mind to…there just needs to be passion and dedication and a positive attitude.

The shoot on Sunday, only one day of a several day shoot, consisted of three scenes: the alleyway, the performance scene, and the end liberation. In the alleyway scene, the extras in the video follow Tom through the alley (or the one created at Lacy Studios) and band together to create a gang of roughed-up youth (the make up artist helped create this effect with dirt smudges on faces and hands). Then the rain started pouring, but only provided a slight delay because the band and directors figured the precipitation could add to the intensity of the performance shot. They were right. The images of drummer Atom Willard crashing his symbols with rain spraying in every direction is inspiration in itself.

The last scene that was shot for the day was simply a montage of the youth cheering and rejoicing at the idea of being free. When all is edited and cut, the video should be quite epic or as Tom said with red cup in hand, “this is the best music video ever made.”

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Billy Boy on Poison – Unknown Theatre – Friday January 18^th

What happened to the music scene? Where have the crowds been going? Apparently to the Billy Boy on Poison shows – which hit the capacity of 350 at the Unknown Theatre in a matter of an hour on Friday, January 18^th. Not bad for a new band…not bad at all.

When watching the band, one can’t take their eyes off of lead singer Davis. He performs barefoot and really personifies his lyrics. He appears to be something of a young Iggy Pop – rude and in your face but with a respect for the music he is creating. The crowd is equally as fascinating and is allowed to interact with the band. They are welcomed on stage and often handed the mic to complete Davis’ phrases and thoughts.

It’s a show that I hope will be repeated and whose audience will grow. The EP drops on February 19^th and will be available at Hot Topic and iTunes. Get it – it’s a necessity.

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Gallows – Troubadour – Wednesday, January 23^rd

Embodying the performing spirit of the Sex Pistols back in the day and proving Epitaph wise for signing the band, Gallows provides every attendee with an adrenaline-filled experience. (I ignored the guy next to me, who after fifteen seconds of the set excused himself from the show due to poor music tastes.)

At this particular show, Frank Carter, injured himself after various stage antics and the show was continued with less vigor than normal. But that can certainly be excused. Every day on warped tour this summer, the singer gave nothing but one hundred and fifty percent…even getting into the crowd in Indiana and moshing without the presence of his “trousers”.

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